Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 15

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 15, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news from press conferences, let's keep a live commentary thread going again today.

Note: This is the graphics-free thread. Graphics can be found under the thread titled "Beltway Sniper Shootings-Graphics Only"

[LibertyGirl77]

huh? I thought the strip mall was surrounded by highways. 7 of them in fact.

Well, technically. It's actually the convergence of several huge streets that have "highway" status. I used to live in Shirlington about two miles down the road. That place is TRAFFIC HELL. The "highways" have red lights every few feet, and Seven Corners itself is nothing but a gridlocked intersection of seven major streets.

[mhking]

is Brittney implanted ? serious question.

That's what I understand. Now she supposedly denies it, but then again, Michael Jackson still denies having plastic surgery, too...

[jacquej]

OK, some "head" on Fox said that since these predator drones were unmanned, that the "posse commitatas"(sp?) rule/law would not be violated.

Here is what I find presently confuddling.

If we were to find ourselves under attack by sniper cells in this country, (and that is a big "IF", please note) does the "posse" law mean that we cannot have our armed services defending the populace?

Or, is it just too upsetting to the body politic, the stock market, and our shopping as usual to have the army or marines out beating through the parking lot landscaping and neighborhood parks to look for guerilla terrorists?

Someone explain under what circumstances we can use our miltitary for the common defense? I am clueless.

[areafiftyone]

is Brittney implanted ? serious question.

No the child had a growth spurt! ;-)

[Elenya]

Wonder if the drones will be armed with "hell-fire" missiles? ROFLOL.

I know it's a stupid question, but can someone tell me what they plan to do with them?

[Merovingian]

See post #37 on this thread:

http://www.FreeRepublic.com/focus/news/769567/posts?page=30

[ellery]

It's possible that this isn't over. It's conceivable that this is the pilot to see how LE will react (and maybe even divert LE from other places). Then, right before Christmas shopping goes into full swing, we get simultaneous attacks all over the country.

Caveat: I agree with the other posters who say we have no idea who's behind this. But the above scenario has the farthest-reaching implications, so that's where my biggest focus/fear is...

[dinasour]

My goodness, if you can't get a good description from 30 feet of the driver, shooter, and van, there is something wrong

The committee might throw it out if they thought that someone was profiling. They don't want any descriptions unless they are descriptions of white racist gun nut FReepers.

[Solson]

Stupid question time: If we use drones, how exactly will that help? If I'm the sniper, I look up in the sky, see if a drone is there, if not...I pull the trigger. If so, I keep driving.

Wouldn't camera's on all major on-ramps be more effective?

[fhillary2]

yes, it's open to 50

[poppyseed]

The one thing that strikes me about the killing spree in this area, is the extremely high numbers of federal employees.

I think it's less likely that there's a conspiracy against federal workers and more likely that a huge number of people around here work for the government. I'm just a contractor, but work with a great number of gov't. employees, including people from Montgomery County, Spotsylvania County, etc. I don't have any stats, but would be willing to wager that more than half the people around here work for the government - and so, in such a fed. employee-saturated area, it makes sense that the sniper would take out a high number of federal employees.

[Dog]

There is a real law....that states they can not be used inside our borders as LE.

[ottersnot]

You are correct and it would be open towards 50. Route 7 is to the back of Home Depot. The top of the deck is the same level as rte 7. There are shops/stores on two different levels there so the deck is kind of like an overhang providing extra parking. The Home Depot is on the lower level with a ramp leading from it to the top of the deck. Parking is available on top of or under the deck.

It's a very very congested area. 3 major routes come together there. The traffic is some of the worst in Northern Virginia that I have experienced. Immediate guesses are that the shooter could have been on the access road bordering route 50 if he/they shot from their van. My guess is he shot from across 50 and then ran to a waiting vehicle possibly blocks away???. who knows. A lot of these witness reports are unconfirmed and contradicting.

Regarding a vigilant armed citizen shooting the shooter after he disclosed his position. He's been very careful NOT to disclose his position. Thus ONE shot only.
note, my humble opinion, and worth .02 cents.

[mhking]

OK, but I've heard on another front that they think the shot may have come from across US 50 (the "grassy knoll" story). So we're left, yet again, with nothing.

[Letitring]

Or Rumsfeld. :) Someone told me last night, the local media were asking people who'd been trapped in traffic for hours, if they were upset, etc., were told no they didn't mind waiting one bit; if it helped them catch the murderer, do it. :) Most of them were quite entertained, said they'd never seen so many cops in one place before. :)

[dhfnc]

Someone explain under what circumstances we can use our miltitary for the common defense? I am clueless.

My understanding is that we would have to be under attack from a foreign government. Would AQ qualify? Don't know the answer to that. However, we did have military protecting us, from the air, after Sept. 11. and also, look at the extra protection on Sept 11, 02 in D.C. and NYC.

[Deguello]

"Possibly to explain why the Pentagon is authorizing the use of Predator drones to look for a serial killer."

This would be interesting. Mixing a drone with VFR aircraft or flying higher and running into problems with controlled airspace.

[OReilly]

it makes sense that the sniper would take out a high number of federal employees.

Are you saying that he must not be a democrat, since he would be in favor of big Government?

[Letitring]

Surveil.:)

[Sacajaweau]

At 30 ft, it's not a long barreled rifle.

Sac